How Effective Is Ayurveda for Depression, and Can It Help Without Medication? - #13071

I am an Ayurvedic physician with an MD from AIIMS—yeah, the 2008 batch. That time kinda shaped everything for me... learning at that level really forces you to think deeper, not just follow protocol. Now, with 15+ years in this field, I mostly work with chronic stuff—autoimmune issues, gut-related problems, metabolic syndrome... those complex cases where symptoms overlap n patients usually end up confused after years of going in circles. I don’t rush to treat symptoms—I try to dig into what’s actually causing the system to go off-track. I guess that’s where my training really helps, especially when blending classical Ayurveda with updated diagnostics. I did get certified in Panchakarma & Rasayana therapy, which I use quite a lot—especially in cases where tissue-level nourishment or deep detox is needed. Rasayana has this underrated role in post-illness recovery n immune stabilization, which most people miss. I’m pretty active in clinical research too—not a full-time academic or anything, but I’ve contributed to studies on how Ayurveda helps manage diabetes, immunity burnout, stress dysregulation, things like that. It’s been important for me to keep a foot in that evidence-based space—not just because of credibility but because it keeps me from becoming too rigid in practice. I also get invited to speak at wellness events n some integrative health conferences—sharing ideas around patient-centered treatment models or chronic care via Ayurvedic frameworks. I practice full-time at a wellness centre that’s serious about Ayurveda—not just the spa kind—but real, protocol-driven, yet personalised medicine. Most of my patients come to me after trying a lot of other options, which makes trust-building a huge part of what I do every single day.

I am Dr Anurag Sharma, done with BAMS and also PGDHCM from IMS BHU, which honestly shaped a lot of how I approach things now in clinic. Working as a physician and also as an anorectal surgeon, I’ve got around 2 to 3 years of solid experience—tho like, every day still teaches me something new. I mainly focus on anorectal care (like piles, fissure, fistula stuff), plus I work with chronic pain cases too. Pain management is something I feel really invested in—seeing someone walk in barely managing and then leave with actual relief, that hits different. I’m not really the fancy talk type, but I try to keep my patients super informed, not just hand out meds n move on. Each case needs a bit of thinking—some need Ksharasutra or minor para surgical stuff, while others are just lifestyle tweaks and herbal meds. I like mixing the Ayurved principles with modern insights when I can, coz both sides got value really. It’s like—knowing when to go gentle and when to be precise. Right now I’m working hard on getting even better with surgical skills, but also want to help people get to me before surgery's the only option. Had few complicated cases where patience n consistency paid off—no shortcuts but yeah, worth it. The whole point for me is to actually listen first, like proper listen. People talk about symptoms but also say what they feel—and that helps in understanding more than any lab report sometimes. I just want to stay grounded in my work, and keep growing while doing what I can to make someone's pain bit less every day.

I am Dr. Maitri, currently in my 2nd year of MD in Dravyaguna, and yeah, I run my own Ayurvedic clinic in Ranoli where I’ve been seeing patients for 2 years now. Honestly, what pulled me into this path deeper is how powerful herbs really are—when used right. Not just randomly mixing churnas but actually understanding their rasa, virya, vipaka etc. That’s kinda my zone, where textbook knowledge meets day-to-day case handling. My practice revolves around helping people with PCOD, acne, dandruff, back pain, stiffness in knees or joints that never seem to go away. And I don’t jump to giving a long list of medicines straight away—first I spend time figuring out their prakriti, their habits, food cycle, what triggers what… basically all the small stuff that gets missed. Then comes the plan—herbs (single or compound), some diet reshuffling, and always some lifestyle nudges. Sometimes they’re tiny, like sleep timing. Sometimes big like proper seasonal detox. Being into Dravyaguna helps me get into the depth of herbs more confidently. I don’t just look at the symptom—I think okay what guna will counter this? Should the drug be snigdha, ushna, tikta? Is there a reverse vipaka that’ll hurt the agni? I ask these questions before writing any combo. That’s made a huge diff in outcomes. Like I had this case of chronic urticaria that would flare up every week, and just tweaking the herbs based on sheetala vs ushna nature... helped calm the system in 3 weeks flat. Not magic, just logic. I also work with women who are struggling with hormonal swings, mood, delayed periods or even unexplained breakouts. When hormones go haywire, the skin shows, digestion slows, and mind gets foggy too. I keep my approach full-circle—cleansing, balancing, rejuvenating. No quick fixes, I tell them early on. What I’m hoping to do more of now is make Ayurveda feel practical. Not overwhelming. Just simple tools—ahara, vihara, aushadha—used consistently, with some trust in the body’s own healing. I’m still learning, still refining, but honestly, seeing people feel in control of their health again—that’s what keeps me rooted to this.

I am a Consulting Ayurvedic Physician practicing since 1990—feels strange saying “over three decades” sometimes, but yeah, that’s the journey. I’ve spent these years working closely with chronic conditions that don’t always have clear answers in quick fixes. My main work has been around skin disorders, hair fall, scalp issues, and long-standing lifestyle stuff like diabetes, arthritis, and stress that kinda lingers under everything else. When someone walks into my clinic, I don’t jump to treat the problem on the surface. I start by understanding their *prakriti* and *vikriti*—what they’re made of, and what’s currently out of sync. That lets me build treatment plans that actually *fit* their system—not just push a medicine and hope it works. I use a mix of classical formulations, panchakarma if needed, dietary corrections, and slow, practical lifestyle changes. No overnight miracle talk. Just steady support. Hair fall and skin issues often feel cosmetic from outside—but internally? It’s about digestion, stress, liver, hormones... I’ve seen patients try 10+ things before landing in front of me. And sometimes they just need someone to *listen* before throwing herbs at the problem. That’s something I never skip. With arthritis and diabetes too, I take the same root-cause path. I give Ayurvedic medicines, but also work with *dinacharya*, *ahar* rules, and ways to reduce the load modern life puts on the body. We discuss sleep, food timing, mental state, all of it. I’ve also worked a lot with people dealing with high stress—career burnout, anxiety patterns, overthinking—and my approach there includes Ayurvedic counseling, herbal mind support, breathing routines... depends what suits them. My foundation is built on classical *samhitas*, clinical observation, and actual time with patients—not theories alone. My goal has always been simple: to help people feel well—not just for a few weeks, but in a way that actually lasts. Healing that feels like *them*, not just protocol. That’s what I keep aiming for.

I am Dr. P. Prasad, and I’ve been in this field for 20+ years now, working kinda across the board—General Medicine, Neurology, Dermatology, Cardiology—you name it. Didn’t start out thinking I’d end up spanning that wide, but over time, each area sort of pulled me in deeper. And honestly, I like that mix. It lets me look at a patient not just through one lens but a whole system-wide view... makes more sense when treating something that won’t fit neatly in one category. I’ve handled everything from day-to-day stuff like hypertension, diabetes, or skin infections to more serious neuro and cardiac problems. Some cases are quick—diagnose, treat, done. Others take time, repeated check-ins, figuring out what’s really going on beneath those usual symptoms. And that’s where the detail matters. I’m pretty big on thorough diagnosis and patient education—because half the problem is ppl just not knowing what’s happening inside their own body. What’s changed for me over years isn’t just knowledge, it’s how much I lean on listening. If you miss what someone didn’t say, you might also miss their actual illness. And idk, after seeing it play out so many times, I do believe combining updated medical practice with basic empathy really shifts outcomes. Doesn’t have to be complicated... it just has to be consistent. I keep up with research too—new drugs, diagnostics, cross-specialty updates etc., not because it’s trendy, but cuz it’s necessary. Patients come in better read now than ever. You can’t afford to fall behind. The end goal’s the same tho—help them heal right, not just fast. Ethical practice, evidence-based, and sometimes just being there to explain what’s going on. That’s what I stick to.

I am Dr. Snehal Vidhate, born n brought up in Maharashtra—and honestly, for as long as I remember I’ve felt this pull towards Ayurveda. Not the fancy version ppl throw around, but the deep, real kind that actually helps ppl. I did my BAMS from YMT Ayurvedic Medical College in Kharghar. That’s where I got my basics strong—like really studied the shastras, understood prakriti, doshas, the whole deal. Not just crammed theory but started to see how it shows up in real lives. After finishing BAMS, I got into this one-year certificate course at Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, Delhi—honestly a turning point. I was super lucky to learn Kerala Ayurveda from my Guru, Prof. Dr. G.G. Gangadharan. He’s got this way of seeing things... simple but deep. That time with him taught me more than any textbook ever could. It kinda reshaped how I look at health, healing n how precise Ayurveda can be when you respect its roots. Right now I’m doing my MD in Panchakarma from SDM Ayurveda College, Bangalore. This place is like a hub for serious Ayurveda work. The Panchakarma training here? Super intense. We go deep into detoxification & rasayana therapy—not just theory again, but hands-on. I’m learning to blend classical techniques with today’s clinical demands.. like how to make Vamana or Basti actually doable in modern patient setups. My current practice is really about merging tradition with logic. Whether it’s chronic skin issues, gut problems, stress burnout or hormone stuff—my goal is to get to the root, not just hush the symptoms. I use Panchakarma when needed, but also a lot of ahara-vihara tweaks, medhya herbs, sometimes just slowing ppl down a bit helps. I really believe Ayurveda’s power is in its simplicity when done right. I don’t try to fix ppl—I work *with* them. And honestly, every patient teaches me something back.

I am an Ayurvedic doctor, someone who’s pretty much built her clinical journey around natural healing, balance and yeah—just trying to help ppl feel a bit more whole again. I work mostly with conditions that kinda stay with people... like joint pain that won’t go away, periods all over the place, kids falling sick again n again, or just the kind of stress that messes up digestion n sleep n everything in between. A lot of my practice circles around arthritis, lower back pain, PCOD-ish symptoms, antenatal care, immunity problems in kids, and those quiet mental health imbalances ppl often don't talk much about. My approach isn’t just pulling herbs off a shelf and calling it a day. I spend time with classical diagnosis—checking Prakriti, figuring out doshas, seeing how much of this is physical and how much is coming from daily routine or emotional burnout. And treatments? Usually a mix of traditional Ayurvedic meds, Panchakarma (only if needed!!), changing food habits, tweaking the daily rhythm, and honestly... just slowing down sometimes. I’m also really into helping ppl understand themselves better—like once someone gets how their body is wired, things make more sense. I talk to patients about what actually suits their dosha, what throws them off balance, and how they can stop chasing quick fixes that don’t stick. Education's a big part of it. And yes, I’ve had patients walk in for constant cold and walk out realizing it’s more about weak agni n poor gut routines than just low immunity. Every case’s diff. Some are simple. Some not. But whether it’s a young woman trying to fix her cycles without hormones or a 6-year-old catching colds every week, I try building plans that last—not just short term relief stuff. Healing takes time and needs trust from both sides. End of the day, I try to keep it rooted—classical where it matters but flexible enough to blend with the world we're livin in rn. That balance is tricky, but worth it.

I am Dr. Prajakta Kulkarni, an Ayurvedic physician and diet consultant with 15+ years into this field, and honestly—every year just keeps reminding me that food and healing aren’t separate things. My core focus is integrating Ayurvedic nutrition with actual modern dietary needs, like not everyone can live on kitchari and ghee alone, right? My goal’s always been to make Ayurveda feel doable, not distant. I run a global online Ayurvedic diet program—it’s now reached over 100 cities worldwide and still growing. The plan is simple but not basic: it’s tailored for each person’s constitution, goals, and health issues. Whether it’s weight issues, metabolism imbalance, IBS-type digestion drama, hormonal chaos, or even general fatigue—this program works by bringing the body back to balance through food that matches your dosha + condition. The 95% success rate? Not just marketing fluff. That’s real people writing back saying “hey I feel different now.” And that matters. Apart from diet work, I also offer home-based Panchakarma therapy—with Kerala-trained therapists, btw. Which means people can get authentic detox care (like abhyanga, virechana, nasya etc) without going into a clinic they’re not comfy in. I oversee the plan, make sure it suits their needs, and monitor the progress myself. Because I honestly don’t believe healing should come with discomfort or dread. My approach’s always about finding a midpoint between traditional Ayurvedic healing and practical daily life. I don’t tell people to do what isn’t possible for them. Instead, I build around what they can sustain, gently nudging them toward vitality, better digestion, stable energy, and a real sense of balance. It’s not about chasing perfection. It’s about feeling well and knowing how to stay there. At the heart of all this? Just one thing—making Ayurvedic wellness personal, effective, & actually livable in the modern world.

I am an Ayurvedic physician with around 7 yrs clinical experience, though honestly—feels like I’ve lived double that in patient hours. I studied from a govt. medical college (reputed one) where I got deep into classical Ayurvedic texts n clinical logic. I treat everything from chronic stuff like arthritis, IBS, eczema... to more sudden conditions that just pop up outta nowhere. I try to approach each case by digging into the *why*, not just the *what*. I mean—anyone can treat pain, but if you don’t catch the doshic imbalance or metabolic root, it just comes bak right? I use Nadi Pariksha a lot, but also other classical signs to map prakriti-vikruti, dhatu status n agni condition... you know the drill. I like making people *understand* their own health too. Doesn’t make sense to hand meds without giving them tools to prevent a relapse. My Panchakarma training’s been a core part of my work. I do Abhyanga, Swedana, Basti etc regularly—not just detox but also as restorative therapy. Actually seen cases where patients came in exhausted, foggy... and post-Shodhana, they're just lit up. That part never gets old. Also I always tie diet & lifestyle changes into treatment. It’s non-negotiable for me, bcs long-term balance needs daily changes, not just clinic visits. I like using classical formulations but I stay practical too—if someone's not ready for full-scale protocol, I try building smaller habits. I believe healing’s not just abt treating symptoms—it’s abt helping the body reset, then stay there. I’m constantly refining what I do, trying to blend timeless Ayurvedic theory with real-time practical needs of today’s patients. Doesn’t always go perfect lol, but most times we see real shifts. That’s what keeps me going.

I am someone who kinda started out in both worlds—Ayurveda and allopathy—and that mix really shaped how I see health today. My clinical journey began with 6 months of hands-on allopathic exposure at District Hospital Sitapur. Honestly, that place was intense. Fast-paced, high patient flow, constant cases of chronic and acute illnesses coming through. That taught me a lot about how to see disease. Not just treat it, but like… notice the patterns, get better at real-time diagnosis, really listen to what the patient isn’t saying out loud sometimes. It gave me this sharper sense of clinical grounding which I think still stays with me. Then I moved more deeply into Ayurveda and spent another 6 months diving into clinical training focused on Panchakarma therapies. Stuff like Abhyanga, Basti, Shirodhara—learned those not just as a list of techniques, but how and when to use 'em, especially for detox and deep healing. Every case felt like a different puzzle. There wasn’t always one right answer, you know? And that’s where I found I loved adapting protocols based on what the person actually needed, not just what the textbook says. Alongside that, I got certified in Garbha Sanskar through structured training. That really pulled me closer to maternal health. Pregnancy support through Ayurveda isn’t just about herbs or massage, it’s like this entire way of guiding a mother-to-be toward nourishing the baby right from conception—emotionally, physically, all of it. That part stuck with me hard. My overall approach? It’s kinda fluid. I believe in balancing natural therapies and evidence-based thinking. Whether it's seasonal imbalance, hormonal issues, Panchakarma detox plans, or just guiding someone on long-term wellness—I like making people feel safe, heard, and actually understood. I’m not into rushing plans or masking symptoms. I’d rather work together with someone to build something sustainable that really suits their body and where they’re at. In a way, I’m still learning every day. But my focus stays the same—use Ayurvedic wisdom practically, compassionately, and in a way that just... makes sense in real life.

I am Dr. Sushma M and yeah, I’ve been in Ayurveda for over 20 yrs now—honestly still learning from it every day. I mostly work with preventive care, diet logic, and prakriti-based guidance. I mean, why wait for full-blown disease when your body’s been whispering for years, right? I’m kinda obsessed with that early correction part—spotting vata-pitta-kapha imbalances before they spiral into something deeper. Most ppl don’t realize how much power food timing, digestion rhythm, & basic routine actually have… until they shift it. Alongside all that classical Ayurveda, I also use energy medicine & color therapy—those subtle layers matter too, esp when someone’s dealing with long-term fatigue or emotional heaviness. These things help reconnect not just the body, but the inner self too. Some ppl are skeptical at first—but when you treat *beyond* the doshas, they feel it. And I don’t force anything… I just kinda match what fits their nature. I usually take time understanding a person’s prakriti—not just from pulse or skin or tongue—but how they react to stress, sleep patterns, their relationship with food. That whole package tells the story. I don’t do textbook treatment lines—I build a plan that adjusts *with* the person, not on top of them. Over the years, watching patients slowly return to their baseline harmony—that's what keeps me in it. I’ve seen folks come in feeling lost in symptoms no one explained… and then walk out weeks later understanding their body better than they ever did. That, to me, is healing. Not chasing symptoms, but restoring rhythm. I believe true care doesn’t look rushed, or mechanical. It listens, observes, tweaks gently. That's the kind of Ayurveda I try to practice—not loud, but deeply rooted.